Pune ragging case: five law students booked after complaint

A police case has been registered against five students of Indian Law Society Law College in Pune following allegations of ragging, putting the institution’s handling of student safety under focus.

The FIR was filed at Deccan Gymkhana Police Station after a preliminary inquiry, with provisions of the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1999, invoked in the case.

Authorities said the complaint was lodged by a 35-year-old second-year LLB student who accused a group of students of subjecting him to harassment over an extended period between October 2024 and December 2025.

According to the complaint, tensions began on October 6, 2024, when the student reported alleged alcohol consumption inside the hostel to college officials. He claimed this was followed by continuous intimidation and harassment.

Details in the FIR state that the accused allegedly engaged in verbal abuse, created disturbances outside his room, and attempted to threaten him.

The complainant further alleged that cigarette smoke was intentionally blown toward him and that his room door was damaged multiple times.

Police said all five accused, believed to be in their early 20s, have been booked under relevant sections of the anti-ragging law, and further investigation is underway.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Krushikesh Rawale said, “The inquiry is ongoing, and all aspects mentioned in the FIR are being examined.”

The student also questioned the response of the college administration, alleging that repeated complaints to authorities did not result in effective action.

He later approached the University Grants Commission anti-ragging helpline, following which the college constituted an internal inquiry committee.

Although the committee submitted its report to the UGC, the complainant has disputed its findings, calling the report inadequate and flawed. Unsatisfied with the outcome, he escalated the matter to the police, leading to the FIR.

The incident has renewed attention on ragging in higher education institutions, even as regulations mandate strict preventive measures such as anti-ragging committees and helplines.

Investigators are now examining the sequence of events and the allegations to determine responsibility, including the role of the institution’s response system.